The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11
MECHANICAL AUTOMATIC.

a. ~ IA n 0O0GO0 k1eT&lOs
There are many wonderful things
told by various writer's OF the invent
i've genius Of different persons, and de-
scriptions are given Of tho way in
which this genius has been expended
upon trifles. Philip Camus describes
IN xtradordinary automaton group
that was gotten up TOR tho entertain.
ment Of Louis XIV: It consisted Of a
coach and hotses-what would be des.
lgnated nowadays d 6rst-class turn:
out: It's road was d table, and at
starting the coachman cracked his
whip and the horses commenced to
prancej then subsiding into a long
trot, they continued until the whole
equipage was opposite where the king
sat: The whole thing then stopped, a
HOFFMAN dismounted from the foot
board opened the door and handed out
q lady, who courtesymg gracefully, of.
Tered a petition to his majesty and
reentered the carriage. The footman
once more resumed his place on the
iootboard, the whip cracked, the
horses pranced and again went on the
long trot.
Some of the stories respecting mu.
slcal automata are no less remark
able: in the Encyclopedias Methodi-
que" DAlembert gives an account of
gigantic flute player. It stood on a
pedestal in which some of the works
were arranged, and. not only blow in
to the flute, but, with his lips, increas.
ed or diminished the tones it forced
out OF the Instrument, performing the
leeato and staccato passages perfectly.
The lingering was also very accurate.
This marvellous flutist was exhibited
in Paris in 1888, and was .made by
Jacques Vaucanson, the prince OF
automaton contriveIs. He Ia
bored under many disadvantages
in constructing this marvellous
figure. A skeptic uncle, with others,
for some years laughed at all his pro-
1ects. At last he seemed to be favor
ed in q singular way. He had a
severe illness and he took advantage
OF it to contrive the automaton he
had so long dreamed of. This took
place at Grenoble, and, as Varcanson
designed each portion Of the figure,
he sent it to be made by a different
workman, so that no one could find
out the principle of his invention.
When the pieces came home he put
them together, and when the whole
was completed. with the aid OF serv-
ant, he crawled out Of bed. Tremb-
ling with anxiety he wound up the
works. As the first sound came from
the flute the servant, who had been O
go between with the various mechan-
les. fell upon mis- knees and began to
worship his master as something more
than mortal. They both embraced
and wept for JOY to the time Of the
tune the figure was playing. None of
Vaucnnson's imi tators have been able
to accomplish what he did in the way
OF modifying sound by the action OF
the lips, although several fute.play-
ing puppets have since been made.
More than forty years ago there was
an exhibition in London OF two life.
sized mechanical figures that perform
ed duets. Incredulous visitors would
place their fingers on the holes OF the
flute to convince themselves that the
puppets really supplied the wind which
caused the flutes to discourse such ex-
cellent music. At Vienna, in 1909,
Maelzel, the inventor of the metro.
nome, exhibited an automatic trum-
peter as large as life, and it performed
with surprising accuracy and power.
The audience first saw on entering the
room a tent. Soon the curtains open
ed and Maelzel appeared, leading
the trumpeter attired in the
full uniform Of an Austrian
dragon. He then pressed the left ep-
aulett OF the figure and it not only
sounded all the cavalry calls then in
use, but played a march and an al
legro by Weigl, which was accompan-
led by g. full band of living musicians.
The figure then retired and reappeared
in the dress of a trumpeter of the
French guard. The inventor wound
it up ON the left hip. Another touch
on the left shoulder, and forth from
the trumpet, in succession, came all
the French cavalry calls, the French
cavalry march by Dussek, and one of
Pleyeps allegros, again accompan-
led by the orchestra. 1t has been de-
clared that the tones produced by
Maelzels automaton were even fuller
and richer than those produced by
human lips and lungs, because a
mans breath imparts to the inside of
the instrument a moisture which in
| jures the tone.
Vaucanson had never been outdone.
He made figure which played flag
eolet with one hand while he struck g.
tambourine with the other; but he
achieved hegreates wonders in imitat-
ing animals. He made a duck which
became the wonder of the world. He
initiated nature in every particular.
All the bones, fibres and organs were
so accurately made and fitted that
the mechanical duck waddled about
in search OF grain, and, when he found
it, picked it up and swallowed it. In
fact, this wonderful duck, many writ
ers state, could not be distinguished
from q living duck. 1t would muddle
the water with its beak, drink and
quack true to life. Vaucanson formed
insects as we'll as men and animals.
One of the most notable specimens
OF mechanical automatic was exhibit.
ed at BoulOgne in the year 1851.
1t was the work of q jeweler, who
devoted eight years of his life to the
perfection of clock-worker conjurer,
Dressed in eastern costume, this ne
cromancer stood behind table, COW
cred, as the tables OF professors of
legerdemain generally are, with vari-
Gus little boxes and cabinets, from
which he took the articles he used
during the exhibition. He produced
the goblets and showed tine balls un.
der them in the most approved style.
Then he conjured one or two into a
place a moment before vacant. Pres
emily they disappeared again and were
continually separated and brought
together again. Atevery exclamation
of the spectators the little conjurer
turned his head from side to side as il
looking round the house, cast his eyes
modestly down, bowed and resumed
his sleight of hand. He would not on
ly lift the goblets and place them
over the balls, but would leave them